Another Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Resigns

by MEIR JAVEDANFAR in Tel Aviv

On Tuesday December 15th, Dr Mohammad Saeedi, the deputy head of planning for the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran (AEOI) and a member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team for the past five years resigned.

Saeedi is the second senior member of AEOI who has resigned since the reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June this year. The first was Mohammad Reza Aghazadeh, who was the head of the organization.

Although no official explanation has been provided, it is quite possible that Saeedi's resignation could be related to the infighting currently taking place within the Iranian regime.

After Ahmadinejad's reelection, Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei started a purge in the Iranian government. Many of those who were reformists or moderate conservatives were pushed out.

For those who survived the cull, Iran's refusal to accept President Obama's recent offer, and the impending sanctions and isolation which it will bring, could be a huge disappointment. This is especially true for Iran's nuclear negotiating team.

Dr Saeedi would have seen how, for years, Ali Larijani, Iran's senior nuclear negotiator masterfully delayed major sanctions for Iran by negotiating with the EU and Javier Solana.

Since Larijani's resignation in 2007, Iran's position has significantly worsened. His replacement, Saeed Jalili is far less capable in terms of diplomatic skills. Furthermore, Supreme Leader Khamenei does not want to make any compromises. If anything, Iran is now far more provocative than before. See Ahmadinejad's announcement that his government plans to build 10 new enrichment facilities, in complete defiance of UN resolutions.

Under these circumstances, Iran's nuclear negotiation team has become all but redundant. Dr Saeedi would be forgiven for thinking his job is done.

7 Comments

How much more "infighting" has characterized the US political scene over healthcare reform, than Iran's decision making process over the West's nuclear proposal?

Refusal to accept Obama's "offer"? Why, there have been numerous offers that have been made by Iran, one was made this week in fact. Why has Obama refused Iran's offer is the question that should really be put forward.

And why in the world is Tehran Bureau using reports on Iran's nuclear program from Tel Aviv of all places? No bias there (sarcasm intended).

Pirouz / December 16, 2009 9:43 PM

There is no explanation needed. They know in a few months they will be toast. Why not bailout now. Nuclear tipped bunker busters make a man think twice. When the guy at the top leaves, rest assured a lot of people under them bailout too. Where would Khamenei be? In his hole under Reza in Mashhad.

Ardeshir / December 16, 2009 10:30 PM

Overall, the AN administration has been pretty consistent in its policy which is that they will not abandon IRI's right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology within the NPT treat and under the supervision of IAEA. It is the US and its allies and particularly Israel that has consistently been scare mongering and making threats and seeking to 'politicise' the issue and to create a state of insecurity together with some of its Arab allies for obvious reasons. I am amazed at comments like Ardeshir, if for no other reason than patriotism he would not wish for his country to be attacked. As for the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, this has been revered for hundreds of years before the Islamic Republic came into being and will continue to be so even if the Islamic Republic were to be dissolved, if for no other reason that it brings substantial revenue to the local economy. It is these kinds of Islamophobic comment that is actually going to be the downfall of the opposition. Khamanei and his supporters may have hijacked and sought to monopolise the Islamic discourse but historically despots who have sought to do that have usually failed and have normally been confronted by a Hossayn!

rezvan / December 17, 2009 3:46 AM

rezvan, do you need glasses? The guy is saying your leadership is bailing out(as in scared)cause they might get attacked and you translate that to wishing to get attacked!?He says Khamini will take refuge under what's the guy's name? Reza and you go off on a tangent about economy. Is this common with you Islamists? Hossayn! What's that?
Besides, he is right about toast.when U.S. AirForce decides to take your installations out, you guys won't stand a chance, guaranteed. Your technology is 40 years behind times.We will dominate your skies and flaten you. We will target your leadership too. Its best if you guys sort it out before it gets to a confrontation.In the air / sea you are toast.Just a friendly advice.

T.J. Foster / December 17, 2009 5:12 AM

TO PIROUZ:
why do you keep connecting events in Iran to totally irrelevant matters in the U.S. (i.e healthcare reform in this instance)?

As I understand this is a website which reports news and views about Iran. The readers are not here to read about healthcare reform in the U.S. or to look at absurd and ridiculous comparisons between the U.S. and Iran. However, since you insist on making these ridiculous comparisons indulge me in the following:

I don't recall having read any news about public executions in the U.S. in the twenty first century (which has happened regularly in Iran). I am not aware of any laws which condemn adulterers to stoning in the U.S. (which is apparently the law in Iran) or execution for being gay for that matter. Nor have I ever heard of mass executions of political prisoners in the U.S. (unlike Iran circa 1988 and other instances too).

These are just a few (but by no means exhaustive) comparisons which perhaps you may wish to consider the next time you think about posting one of your idiotic comments.

One last thing, if you love this regime so much why don't you go back and work for them - or are you on their payroll already?

Agha Irani / December 17, 2009 7:20 PM

Pirouz
You compare Khamanei actions to US politics. Try comparing him to Yazid. You will find many things in common there too.